Politics Daily http://www.politicsdaily.com Politics Daily http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.politicsdaily.com/media/feedlogo.gif Politics Daily http://www.politicsdaily.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Obama: Allies Will Soon Take Control of Libyan Campaignhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/obama-allies-will-soon-take-over-management-of-libyan-campaign/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/obama-allies-will-soon-take-over-management-of-libyan-campaign/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/obama-allies-will-soon-take-over-management-of-libyan-campaign/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Facing criticism for taking military action in Libya without first formally consulting Congress, President Obama said Tuesday he is certain U.S. control over the operation would soon be transferred to the allies, news agencies reported.

"I have absolutely no doubt that we will be able to transfer control of this operation to an international coalition," Obama said at a press conference in San Salvador with El Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes, Bloomberg reported.

Members of NATO are meeting to establish a command structure, which will be done "over the next several days," he said.

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Aboard Air Force One, Ben Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser, told reporters, "What we're saying right now is that NATO has a key role to play here."

According to Bloomberg, "the allies are considering a proposal, backed by France, to create a political steering committee that would oversee military operations using NATO's command structure."

In Moscow, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he expected that "significant military fighting" in Libya "should recede in the next few days."

"I don't want to get in front of the diplomacy that is going on, but I still think a transfer within a few days is likely," Gates said. "This command-and-control business is complicated, and we haven't done something like this kind of on the fly before. So it's not surprising to me that it would take a few days to get it all sorted out," The Washington Post reported.

Meanwhile, debate in Washington over the U.S. role heated up even before reports Tuesday that a U.S. warplane patrolling Libyan air space had crashed.

Four liberal House Democrats -- Reps. Barbara Lee, Mike Honda, and Lynn Woolsey, all of California, and Raul Grijalva or Arizona -- called on the president to end the U.S. involvement in the Libyan campaign, Politico said.

"The decision for the United States to engage militarily in Libya is one that should have been debated and approved by Congress," the four lawmakers said in their statement. "We have serious concerns about whether or not an effective and thorough case for military intervention in Libya was made. Too many questions remain. What is our responsibility now? Do we own the situation in Libya and for how long? Where does this dramatic acceleration of military intervention end?"

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), a conservative member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Obama's "unilateral choice" to join a U.N.-backed coalition establishing a no-fly zone "is an affront to our Constitution," The Hill newspaper reported. The United States, Bartlett said, "does not have a king's army."

Meanwhile, a CBS News poll shows a full 50 percent of Americans approve of the president's handling of Libya.

Since the intervention started Saturday, U.S. Navy warships have launched Tomahawk missiles at Libyan air defenses, while American warplanes have joined other coalition aircraft in attacking military installations and some Libyan ground troops.

A U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet crashed late Monday near Benghazi, but its two crew members ejected and were rescued, the Washington Post and NPR said. Military officials said the plane apparently malfunctioned and was not shot down.

In the Senate, Richard Lugar of Indiana, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee and a White House ally on some issues, said Congress should have a full debate on the objectives and costs of the U.S. role in the attacks. And Democratic Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia, a moderate, said, "This isn't the way the system is supposed to work."

But earlier this month, Defense Secretary Gates warned pro-intervention lawmakers that setting up a no-fly zone was a major undertaking that would have to begin with attacks on Moammar Gadhafi's anti-aircraft systems.

Traveling with the president in Santiago, Chile on Monday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney insisted Obama had consulted personally with congressional leaders on the Libyan situation. And last Saturday, Carney said Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough phoned top lawmakers "to inform them of the imminent action" about to happen. "We take very seriously the need to consult with Congress and we have been doing that," Carney said.

Under the Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war. But the president, as commander in chief of the armed forces, has authority to take military action in emergencies or in the face of threats to national security.

For Rep. Dennis Kucinich, that's not enough to justify what the U.S. has done in Libya. The liberal lawmaker called it "an act of war" and said Congress should be called back from a spring recess to decide whether to continue the military action.

On the website Raw Story, Kucinich (D-Ohio) went further, calling Obama's move in Libya "an impeachable offense." The president "didn't have congressional authorization; he has gone against the Constitution, and that's got to be said," Kucinich maintained.

Kucinich noted that then-Sen. Obama argued in 2007 that "the president does not have the power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."

Kucinich, who has twice run for president as an anti-war candidate, said he was not actually proposing impeachment proceedings but only "raising the question" as to whether grounds exist. In any event, calls for a president's impeachment -- often coming from the far left or the far right on Capitol Hill -- are not unusual. Kucinich himself sought to initiate an impeachment article against President George W. Bush in 2008, but then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi wouldn't go along with it.

 

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]]>Barack Obamabritaincoalitioncommand and controldennis kucinichfranceliberalslibyaLibya uprisinglibyan military actionNATOPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-22T21:11:00+00:00Half of Americans Approve of Obama's Handling of Libyahttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/half-of-americans-approve-of-obamas-handling-of-libya/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/half-of-americans-approve-of-obamas-handling-of-libya/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/half-of-americans-approve-of-obamas-handling-of-libya/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

President Obama's handling of Libya gets the approval of half of Americans who have an opinion on it (and about one-fifth do not), despite criticism from right, left and abroad, according to a CBS News poll conducted March 18-21. (Poll data here.) Critics say the administration waited too long to act or, once it did, took military action whose goals were not as defined as Obama had said they would be.

Fifty percent said they approved of Obama's handling of the situation, 29 percent disapproved, while 21 percent expressed no opinion.

Obama does better when it comes to ratings on his performance on Libya and other foreign policy matters than on some major domestic issues. The CBS poll found that Republicans, who uniformly give Obama low marks on domestic issues, particularly health care, the economy and the deficit, approve of his handling of the Libya situation by a 43 percent to 41 percent margin.

A CNN/Opinion Research poll, conducted March 18-20, found that 54 percent of those surveyed approved of Obama's handling of foreign affairs, and 50 percent agree with the way he's dealt with the Libyan crisis. By contrast, CNN's polling found that only 36 percent approved of Obama's handling of the deficit, 39 percent approved of his economic policy and 41 percent liked the way he was handling health care.

While the CBS poll found little change in Obama's overall job approval rating -- 49 percent approve and 41 percent disapprove -- there was a good sign for him in the fact that independents, who soured on him last year, approved of his performance by 46 percent to 39 percent, with the remainder undecided.


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]]>dailyguidanceLibyaMoammar Gadhafino fly zoneobama pollsU.S. military action LibyaBruce Drake2011-03-22T12:46:00+00:00Obama Getting Heat From Left and Right for U.S. Role in Libyan Attackshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/obama-getting-heat-from-left-and-right-for-u-s-role-in-libyan-a/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/obama-getting-heat-from-left-and-right-for-u-s-role-in-libyan-a/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/obama-getting-heat-from-left-and-right-for-u-s-role-in-libyan-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

President Obama is getting blowback from both sides of the aisle for taking military action in Libya without first formally consulting Congress. Debate in Washington heated up even before reports Tuesday that a U.S. warplane, patrolling Libyan air space, had crashed.

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), a conservative member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Obama's "unilateral choice" to join a U.N.-backed coalition establishing a no-fly zone "is an affront to our Constitution," The Hill newspaper reported. The United States, Bartlett said, "does not have a king's army."

Meanwhile, a CBS News poll shows a full 50 percent of Americans approve of the president's handling of Libya.

Since the intervention started Saturday, U.S. Navy warships have launched Tomahawk missiles at Libyan air defenses, while American warplanes have joined other coalition aircraft in attacking military installations and some Libyan ground troops.

A U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet crashed late Monday near Benghazi, but its two crew members ejected and were rescued, the Washington Post and NPR said. Military officials said the plane apparently malfunctioned and was not shot down.

In the Senate, Richard Lugar of Indiana, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee and a White House ally on some issues, said Congress should have a full debate on the objectives and costs of the U.S. role in the attacks. And Democratic Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia, a moderate, said, "This isn't the way the system is supposed to work."

But earlier this month, Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned pro-intervention lawmakers that setting up a no-fly zone was a major undertaking that would have to begin with attacks on Moammar Gadhafi's anti-aircraft systems.

Traveling with the president in Santiago, Chile on Monday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney insisted Obama had consulted personally with congressional leaders on the Libyan situation. And last Saturday, Carney said Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough phoned top lawmakers "to inform them of the imminent action" about to happen. "We take very seriously the need to consult with Congress and we have been doing that," Carney said.

Under the Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war. But the president, as commander in chief of the armed forces, has authority to take military action in emergencies or in the face of threats to national security. Obama, who was winding up a Latin American trip Tuesday, insists no U.S. ground troops will be deployed and that leadership of the intervention effort will soon be turned over to NATO partners such as Great Britain or France.

For Rep. Dennis Kucinich, that's not enough to justify what the U.S. has done in Libya. The liberal lawmaker called it "an act of war" and said Congress should be called back from a spring recess to decide whether to continue the military action.

On the website Raw Story, Kucinich (D-Ohio) went further, calling Obama's move in Libya "an impeachable offense." The president "didn't have congressional authorization; he has gone against the Constitution, and that's got to be said," Kucinich maintained.

Kucinich noted that then-Sen. Obama argued in 2007 that "the president does not have the power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."

Kucinich, who has twice run for president as an anti-war candidate, said he was not actually proposing impeachment proceedings but only "raising the question" as to whether grounds exist. In any event, calls for a president's impeachment -- often coming from the far left or the far right on Capitol Hill -- are not unusual. Kucinich himself sought to initiate an impeachment article against President George W. Bush in 2008, but then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi wouldn't go along with it.

 

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]]>dennis kucinichImpeachmentJames Webbrichard lugarroscoe bartlettPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-22T09:32:00+00:00French Warplanes Enforcing Ceasefire in Libya After Gadhafi Keeps Up Attackshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/19/french-warplanes-enforcing-ceasefire-in-libya-after-gadhafi-keep/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/19/french-warplanes-enforcing-ceasefire-in-libya-after-gadhafi-keep/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/19/french-warplanes-enforcing-ceasefire-in-libya-after-gadhafi-keep/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

French fighter planes, backed by U.S. missiles, patrolled the skies above Libya Saturday as a U.N.-backed coalition began enforcing a ceasefire and no-fly zone. The large-scale action came after Moammar Gadhafi defied demands for an end to the violence and attacked a rebel stronghold in Benghazi.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the intervention was ordered after Gadhafi's military attacked civilians with "murderous madness," the Washington Post reported. The French military said a Rafale fighter jet had destroyed a Libyan government tank near Benghazi, according to the New York Times.

President Obama said he had approved "limited military action" by the United States -- and U.S. Navy warships soon joined the fray, firing Tomahawk missiles at Libyan air defenses, the Associated Press said.

The U.S. and its allies on Friday demanded that Libyan dictator Gadhafi observe an immediate ceasfire, but attacks continued against the rebel base in Benghazi.

Before the military intervention Saturday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met in Paris with Sarkozy and leaders of some 20 other countries, including Arab nations, to determine how to enforce the United Nation's-backed call for a ceasefire if Gadhafi's forces did not stand down.

In Brazil, President Obama said he had "authorized the armed forces of the United States to begin a limited military action in Libya. That action has now begun." He said it was not his "first choice and not a choice I make lightly." And the president reiterated that America would not deploy grounds troops in Libya.

Gadhafi was given a chance to avoid the intervention and now must face the consequences, Obama told reporters. "Despite the hollow words of his government, he has ignored that opportunity... His attacks on his own people have continued." The coalition partners, Obama said, are "answering the calls of a threatened people."

Earlier, Obama said the "consensus" among the allied nations was strong and clear. "The people of Libya must be protected," he said. "And in the absence of an immediate end to the violence against civilians, our coalition is prepared to act, and act with urgency."

On Friday, Obama warned Gadhafi to stop attacking Libyan citizens or face the consequences outlined in a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing "all necessary measures," including a no-fly zone, to protect civilians.

Even before the French warplanes took to the skies above Libya, aircraft from Britain and the United Arab Emirates were poised to begin operations in the event Gadhafi ignored demands to pull back him military. And U.S. ships in the Mediterranean were already preparing to take action to help establish a no-fly zone.

"All attacks against civilians must stop," Obama said Friday. Gadhafi "must stop his troops from advancing on Benghazi," the rebel stronghold in the eastern part of the country, pull back his forces from three other cities, establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all areas, and allow humanitarian assistance to reach Libyan citizens."

Gadhafi has sent two letters -- one to Obama and another to U.N., British and French leaders -- in an apparent attempt to ward off military intervention, the Times said, citing citing a Libyan deputy foreign minister. In a conciliatory vein to Obama, he wrote that Libya was battling al-Qaeda and asked, "how would you behave?" Even if Libya and the U.S. went to war against each other, he said "you will always remain my son, and I have love for you."

But Gadhafi was combative in his missive to the other international leaders, threatening "you will regret it if you take a step to intervene in our internal affairs." The letters were read aloud to journalists by the minister, Khaled Kaim.

 

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]]>francelibyaMoammar GadhafisarkozyPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-19T16:42:00+00:00Warren Christopher, Former Secretary of State, Democratic Wise Man, Dead at 85http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/19/warren-christopher-former-secretary-of-state-democratic-wise-m/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/19/warren-christopher-former-secretary-of-state-democratic-wise-m/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/19/warren-christopher-former-secretary-of-state-democratic-wise-m/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Former Secretary of State Warren M. Christopher, who served as secretary of state in the Clinton administration during the bloody ethnic conflicts in the Balkans, died Friday from complications of kidney and bladder cancer. He was 85.

After four years as the nation's top diplomat, Christopher stepped down to serve as a senior adviser to Al Gore's 2000 White House campaign, leading the vice president's legal team during the disputed post-election recount in Florida.

President Obama, in a statement Saturday, called Christopher a "skilled diplomat, a steadfast public servant and a faithful American."

Obama said Christopher was "deeply dedicated to serving his country" during a career that included World War II service in the Naval Reserve, a U.S. Supreme Court clerkship, a law practice in California and Washington, and a role as a much sought-after adviser to Democratic politicians.

"As President Clinton's secretary of state, he was a resolute pursuer of peace, leading negotiations with regard to the Middle East and the Balkans, including the Dayton [Ohio] agreement, which ended the war in Bosnia," Obama said. Christopher was also a U.S. negotiator in the 1981 release of American hostages in Iran.

Former President Jimmy Carter, in his memoirs, called him "the best public servant I ever knew."

Christoper died at his home in Los Angeles, the Associated Press reported.

 

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]]>dailyguidanceWarren ChristopherPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-19T14:14:00+00:00Newt Gingrich: President Obama 'Fixated' on Final Fourhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/newt-gingrich-president-obama-fixated-on-final-four/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/newt-gingrich-president-obama-fixated-on-final-four/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/newt-gingrich-president-obama-fixated-on-final-four/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Newt Gingrich says President Obama is acting like the "spectator in chief instead of the commander in chief."

Appearing on Fox News Thursday night, the former House speaker and presumed 2012 GOP presidential contender told Sean Hannity: "Yes, the administration has just sort of checked out. You know, the president has this fixation with the Final Four -- spent time on ESPN giving us his version of what really mattered to him, which was the Final Four," said Gingrich.

Obama, said Gingrich, "may be the most out-of-touch president in modern American history."

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As TalkingPointsMemo and others have noted, Gingrich joins a chorus of Republican leaders blasting the president for his appearance on ESPN to fill out an NCAA bracket while emergencies continue in Japan and Libya, and Congress is at a stalemate on the budget.

On Twitter, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus complained: "How can @BarackObama say he is leading when [he] puts his NCAA bracket over the budget & other pressing issues?"

RNC spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said Wednesday, "With all of those pressing issues on the president's plate, we would be happy to hear the White House explain why filming an ESPN special on the NCAA Tournament should be a priority on his public schedule."

White House spokesman Jay Carney replied that the presidency is "a hard job" that requires someone adept at juggling its many demands.

"There are crises all the time, for every president," he said. The earthquake/tsunami/nuclear reactor catastrophe in Japan "is happening halfway around the world -- and it is severe and it is important, and it is the focus of a great deal of the president's attention. As are the events in the Middle East, as are the agenda items that he is pursuing to grow the economy and increase jobs in America."

Thursday night, Hannity referred to Obama's upcoming trip to Brazil as "another vacation to Rio" and said the president plays too much golf.

But at least one Republican defended Obama on that score.

"I'm glad he's out playing golf," Quayle -- a golfer himself -- told Fox Business Channel. "I think presidents deserve down time. And, believe me, he is in constant communication with what's going on. . . . What do you want him to do, stay in his house and be on the phone with the ambassador to Japan all the time?"

 

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]]>dailyguidanceJapanese earthquakeMarch MadnessPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-18T15:30:00+00:00Poll: Slim Majority Supports Gay Marriagehttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/poll-slim-majority-supports-gay-marriage/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/poll-slim-majority-supports-gay-marriage/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/poll-slim-majority-supports-gay-marriage/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

For the first time, more Americans support legalization of same-sex marriage than oppose it, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey, showing 53 percent backing for gay marriage, comes amid signs of increased acceptance of homosexuals in the U.S. Just five years go in polling by the same news group, only 36 percent favored gay marriage, the Post said.

Taken last weekend, the new survey asked a random sample of 1,005 adults, "Do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married?" Support for that proposition grew among college-educated whites, political independents, and respondents who didn't regard themselves as religious, the Post said. Men, in general, were on the positive side of the question at the same rate as women.

Republicans, conservatives and white evangelical Christians were among the 44 percent opposed. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Brian Brown, a gay marriage foe and president of the National Organization for Marriage, said the term "illegal" may have skewed the numbers, since most Americans wouldn't favor imprisonment for violating a law against same-sex marriage. But Brown noted that voters in 31 states have approved ballot issues banning gay marriage.

Although a bill legalizing gay marriage failed this month in the Maryland legislature, gay-rights advocates have had their share of victories. Congress last year repealed the Pentagon's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibited openly gay men and women from serving in the military. And the Obama administration announced last month that it would no longer defend in court a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act -- which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.

Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry, said the Post-ABC findings were "consistent with a lot of other polling data we've seen, and the general momentum we seen over the past year and a half. As people have come to understand this is about loving, committed families dealing, like everyone, with tough times, they understand how unfair it is to treat them differently."

 

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]]>dailyguidancedefense of marriage actDOMAPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-18T12:08:00+00:00Economic Issues Underpin Obama's Trip to Brazil, Chile, El Salvadorhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/obama-set-for-weekend-swing-through-brazil-chile-el-salvador/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/obama-set-for-weekend-swing-through-brazil-chile-el-salvador/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/obama-set-for-weekend-swing-through-brazil-chile-el-salvador/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

While still focused on the crises in Japan and Libya, President Obama heads to Latin America this weekend in an effort to promote economic ties and also patch up relations with Brazil, the dominant country in the region.

Obama will also visit Chile, an ally, and El Salvador, which is struggling with drug violence. But the main event is Brazil, where former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva once complained that the U.S. acted like an "empire" and that nothing had changed under Obama, the Washington Post reported.

Obama, in his first visit to Latin America as president, will meet with Brazil's new president, Dilma Rousseff, as the two leaders seek to re-set relations between their countries. Both sides are ready to start over, Julia Sweig, a Council on Foreign Relations scholar, told the Post. "Now they have to translate that optimism and goodwill to figure out what they can do together that's in both of their interests and how to mitigate the tensions that will naturally arise."

Obama said his trip is meant to "strengthen our economic relationship with neighbors" who play a growing role in the United States' economic future. The recent "turmoil and tragedy around the globe" underscores the importance of maintaining close economic links with neighboring countries, he said.

"Our neighbors in the Americas are bound to us by a shared history, values, interest," the president wrote in an op-ed column for USA Today. "What I will convey this week is that we are partners in progress. Strengthening these partnerships will advance common prosperity and common security of all our people, creating new jobs and new growth across the hemisphere, and helping our economy remain an engine of strength and opportunity for all our people."

Obama said Latin America's impressive growth "is good for the people of the hemisphere, and it's good for us. Thanks in part to our trade agreements across the region, we now export three times as much to Latin America as we do to China, and our exports to the region . . . will soon support more than 2 million jobs here in the United States."

First Lady Michelle Obama will also have a busy schedule during the trip, highlighted by visits to schools and cultural events, and a speech she will give in Santiago, Chile, aimed at Latin American youth, Politico reported. "She is extraordinarily popular overseas and is a huge asset to the U.S. in terms of her ability to continue our outreach to the region," Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said earlier this week.

In preparation for the trip, the president granted interviews Friday with televisions stations in Miami, Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C.

 

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]]>Politics Daily Staff2011-03-18T10:02:00+00:00Obama Says U.S. Safe From Japan Radiation, Orders Review of U.S. Nuclear Plantshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/obama-says-u-s-safe-from-japan-radiation-orders-review-of-u-s/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/obama-says-u-s-safe-from-japan-radiation-orders-review-of-u-s/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/obama-says-u-s-safe-from-japan-radiation-orders-review-of-u-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

President Obama reassured Americans Thursday that radiation from Japan's damaged nuclear plants poses no threat to this country, but added that he has ordered safety reviews of U.S. nuclear facilities.

"We do not expect harmful levels of radiation to reach the United States, whether it's the West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska, or U.S. territories in the Pacific," Obama said in an address from the Rose Garden. "That is the judgment of our Nuclear Regulatory Commission and many other experts."

Americans do not need to take any precautions against radiation contamination "beyond staying informed" of what's happening in Japan.

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Update: On Saturday, Japanese officials said higher than normal levels of radiation were found in milk and spinach at farms up to 90 miles away from the damaged nuclear reactors, the New York Times said.

The death toll from the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunamis and aftershocks that struck northern Japan on Friday stood at more than 5,000. Another 10,000 people are still missing.

The disaster damaged four nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi facility, and officials fear dangerous levels of radiation will be released into the atmosphere. On Thursday, emergency personnel worked desperately to douse the overheated No. 3 reactor, using helicopters, heavy-duty fire trucks and water cannons to cool it with water.

The AP reported that Japanese and U.S. concerns were increasingly focusing on the pools used to store spent nuclear fuel: Some of the pools are dry or nearly empty and the rods could heat up and spew radiation.

U.S. citizens who were within 50 miles of the Fukushima Daiichi plant were told told to evacuate Wednesday by U.S. government officials.

"Beyond this 50-mile radius, the risks do not currently call for an evacuation. But we do have a responsibility to take prudent and precautionary measures to educate those Americans who may be endangered by exposure to radiation if the situation deteriorates," Obama said. "That's why last night I authorized the voluntary departures of family members and dependents of U.S. officials working in northeastern Japan."

Before his address, the president made an unannounced visit to the Japanese Embassy in Washington on his way home from a Capitol Hill lunch with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and congressional leaders.

At the embassy, he signed a condolence book, writing: "My heart goes out to the people of Japan during this enormous tragedy. Please know that America will always stand by one of its greatest allies during this time of need. Because of the strength and wisdom of its people, we know that Japan will recover, and indeed will emerge stronger than ever."

In his address, the president called nuclear power an important part of America's energy future. He said that while our existing nuclear facilities "have undergone exhaustive study" and have been deemed safe under a number of rigorous tests, "when we see a crisis like the one in Japan, we have a responsibility to learn from this event, and to draw from those lessons to ensure the safety and security of our people.

"That's why I've asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to do a comprehensive review of the safety of our domestic nuclear plants in light of the natural disaster that unfolded in Japan."

America has sent personnel and tons of relief supplies to its close ally, the president said. The U.S. military is working around the clock there, and has sent some of its top nuclear experts to help contain the damage at Japan's nuclear reactors. "We're sharing with them expertise, equipment, and technology so that the courageous responders on the scene have the benefit of American teamwork and support."

Obama urged the American people to continue their generosity toward the Japanese people, saying anyone who wants to lend a hand should go to usaid.gov for information.

The president ended his address on a note of optimism. "Above all, I am confident that Japan will recover and rebuild because of the strength and spirit of the Japanese people. Over the last few days, they've opened up their homes to one another. They've shared scarce resources of food and water. They've organized shelters, provided free medical care, and looked out for their most vulnerable citizens. One man put it simply: 'It's a Japanese thing. When hard times hit, we have to help each other.'"

 

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]]>Fukushima Daiichijapanese earthquakeNuclear Regulatory CommissionRadiationReactor meltdownPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-17T17:09:00+00:00Sarah Palin Heading to Israel, Taking Path of Other GOP Hopefulshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/sarah-palin-heading-to-israel-taking-path-of-other-gop-hopefuls/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/sarah-palin-heading-to-israel-taking-path-of-other-gop-hopefuls/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/sarah-palin-heading-to-israel-taking-path-of-other-gop-hopefuls/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

In what has become almost a rite of passage for aspiring American politicians, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is heading to Israel, where next week she will meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and visit historic sites.

Palin, perhaps the most closely watched of all potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates, is scheduled to arrive in Israel Sunday after making a weekend speech to business leaders and politicians in New Delhi, India, the Jerusalem Post and Politico reported Thursday.

She plans to meet Monday with the conservative Netanyahu, and separately with Danny Danon, a pro-settler member of the Knesset. Palin is also expected to tour the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and visit Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus.

As with many politicians in both U.S. parties, strong and unwavering support for Israel is nearly an article of faith for Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee. She has criticized the Obama administration for not being strong enough in backing the Jewish state in disputes with the Arab world and Iran.

Yet she also offended some Jews when she used the loaded term "blood libel" to complain about U.S. commentators who put part of the blame for the deadly shootings in Arizona on harsh right-wing rhetoric. Palin was faulted for posting a map showing vulnerable Democratic districts in cross-hairs.

Palin's trek to Israel follows recent visits by other Republicans with presidential ambitions, including Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Haley Barbour and Rudy Giuliani.

 

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]]>Binyamin Netanyahu - Israel - World LeaderdailyguidanceIsraelPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-17T12:30:00+00:00Hillary Clinton Popular With Public but Finished With Government After 2012http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/hillary-clinton-popular-with-public-but-finished-with-government/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/hillary-clinton-popular-with-public-but-finished-with-government/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/hillary-clinton-popular-with-public-but-finished-with-government/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Nearly two out of three Americans like the job Hillary Clinton is doing as secretary of state, a new poll finds. But the former first lady and senator reaffirmed Wednesday that she is working her last government job and will get out of politics for good after 2012.

Clinton, interviewed by CNN in Cairo, said she is "moving on" after she completes her fourth year of service in the Obama administration. "I have the best job I could ever have. This is a moment in history where it is almost hard to catch your breath," she said. ". . . There isn't anything I can imagine doing after this that would be as demanding, as challenging, or rewarding."

The CNN/Opinion Research survey, taken last Friday and Saturday, said 65 percent of respondents had a favorable view of Clinton, including 92 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of independents. Thirty-one percent overall, and six out of 10 Republicans, had a negative opinion. The survey of 1,023 adults had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.

Mrs. Clinton, who has been connected with public service for most of her adulthood, said she wants to return to private life, possibly as an advocate for women and children. If she is asked, she said she would not accept another cabinet position or the vice presidency. And she said she would not run for president in 2016. "I have no intention or any idea even of running again," Clinton said.

Watch Wolf Blitzer's interview with Clinton, courtesy CNN.



 

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]]>dailyguidancePolitics Daily Staff2011-03-17T10:36:00+00:00Michelle Obama to Write Book on White House Garden, Healthy Eatinghttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/michelle-obama-to-write-book-on-white-house-garden-healthy-eati/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/michelle-obama-to-write-book-on-white-house-garden-healthy-eati/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/michelle-obama-to-write-book-on-white-house-garden-healthy-eati/#commentsFiled under: ,

First Lady Michelle Obama will write a book about the White House garden she planted and her efforts to encourage healthy eating, Reuters reports.

The news agency quoted the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, as saying the as yet untitled book is to be published in April 2012 and that all proceeds will go to charity.

Ground for the original 1,100-square-foot garden on the west side of the South Lawn was cleared on March 20, 2009 and first planted the following month. It was expanded by an additional 400 square feet last year.

Also last year, the first lady launched the Obama administration's anti-childhood obesity drive with a goal, she said, of "solving childhood obesity in a generation." As part of her "Let's Move" campaign she has made speeches before food manufacturers, the National Restaurant Association, school lunch administrators, and others, recommending voluntary improvements to cut calories and offer healthier choices.

 

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]]>Anti-obesity campaignanti-obesity drivecrown publishing groupdailyguidancelets moveMichelle Obamawhite house gardenPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-16T19:42:00+00:00Republicans Losing Their Advantage on How to Handle the Deficit, Poll Findshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/republicans-losing-their-advantage-on-the-issue-of-the-deficit/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/republicans-losing-their-advantage-on-the-issue-of-the-deficit/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/republicans-losing-their-advantage-on-the-issue-of-the-deficit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A new poll released Wednesday echoes what a Washington Post/ABC News poll reported a day earlier: President Obama doesn't get good marks for his handling of issues involving the economy, but faith in Republicans doing a better job has slipped.

While the way the questions were framed in the Post/ABC News poll was different from the one by the Pew Research Center -- the Post/ABC survey focused on the economy in general and the Pew poll focused on dealing with the deficit -- the results point to a similar trend suggesting a drop in enthusiasm for Republican policies since the party won big in last year's midterm elections.

The Post/ABC News poll found a majority disapproving of Obama's handling of the economy, but those surveyed still said they trusted him more to do a better job in dealing with the issue than the Republicans.

When it comes to the deficit issue, Pew had found last November that 35 percent thought the Republicans had a better approach than Obama compared to 24 percent who preferred Obama's approach. Thirty-three percent said there was not much difference between the two and 8 percent were undecided.

But in its latest poll, conducted March 8-14, the percentage of those who believed Republicans had a better approach dropped to 21 percent, almost the same as the 20 percent who favored Obama. The percentage of those who said there was not much difference between the two jumped to 52 percent, with 7 percent undecided.

The poll found that the deficit issue now ranks third when it comes to the public's top economic concerns, although the percentage of those who express concern about the deficit is rising. Gallup noted a similar trend in a January poll.

Thirty-four percent cite jobs as the top economic concern, followed by 28 percent who worry most about rising prices. Twenty-four percent named the deficit as the top problem, up from about 15 percent in Pew's last two surveys. Ten percent name problems in the financial and housing markets as the top concern.

When it comes to ways to reduce the deficit, those surveyed were in favor of lowering domestic spending by a 61 percent to 30 percent margin. Americans were roughly split on whether defense spending should be reduced, with 49 percent saying it should and 47 percent disagreeing, which was within the poll's 3-point margin of error. Nearly two-thirds opposed making changes to Social Security or raising taxes.

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]]>Obama pollsBruce Drake2011-03-16T14:00:00+00:00Poll Shows Faith in Government Plummets; Warning Signs for Republicans Emergehttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/15/poll-americans-faith-in-government-plummets-warning-signs-for/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/15/poll-americans-faith-in-government-plummets-warning-signs-for/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/15/poll-americans-faith-in-government-plummets-warning-signs-for/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

While voters may have vented their anger at Washington in last year's elections and altered the balance of power, the public at large is no happier now with the way government is working, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll conducted March 10-13.

Almost half of those surveyed -- 49 percent -- express uncertainty about "our system of government and how well it works" and what it portends for the future. Twenty-six percent said they were optimistic about how well the system of government would serve the nation and 23 percent were pessimistic, with 7 percent undecided.

The 26 percent who expressed optimism represented the lowest number in 35 years.

That compares to February 1999 when 54 percent described themselves as optimistic and 19 percent as pessimistic, with 27 percent uncertain and 1 percent undecided.

The Post/ABC finding comes on the heels of a Gallup poll conducted March 3-6 that showed the percentage of Americans who approved of the way Congress is doing its job dropping to 18 percent, after being in the low 20s in January and February.

Much of the sour outlook appears to stem from public perceptions of the economy, but there are also strong signs of disgruntlement with Republicans, who captured the House last November and strengthened their position in the Senate.

Fifty-three percent do not believe that the economy has begun to recover compared to 46 percent who think it has, with 1 percent undecided. While a majority still holds that view, it is an improvement over December when 57 percent said they saw no improvement.

Forty-nine percent said the economic stimulus program pushed through the last Congress by President Obama and the Democrats had no effect on the economy. Twenty-eight percent said it helped and 21 percent said it had hurt.

Fifty-five percent disapproved of Obama's handling of the economy compared to 43 percent who approved, with 2 percent undecided. That represented an uptick in the percentage of those who disapproved of the job Obama was doing on the economy, and his worst showing since last September.

But that was not necessarily good news for Republicans. Forty-six percent trusted Obama more than the Republicans to do a better job handling the economy compared to 34 percent who believed the Republicans would do a better job, with the remainder answering "both" or "neither."

Those surveyed said Obama represented their values more than the Republicans by a 46 percent to 41 percent margin, with 1 percent undecided. Forty-seven percent said Obama better understood the economic problems people were having than the Republicans, compared to 35 percent who said the Republicans understood better, with the remainder answering both or neither.

ABC polling analyst Gary Langer said, "The drop in trust to handle the economy has occurred chiefly among independents, now drawing away from the GOP after rallying to its side. As recently as January, 42 percent of independents preferred the Republicans in Congress over Obama to handle the economy. Today just 29 percent say the same, and there's been a rise in the number who volunteer that they don't trust either side."

Another possible factor in the overall gloom about government is the continuing war in Afghanistan. Sixty-four percent of Americans do not believe the war is worth fighting, a number that has been rising steadily since last April, when it stood at 52 percent.

Seventy-three percent said the U.S. should withdraw a substantial number of combat troops by this summer. Eighty-seven percent of Democrats held that view, as did 78 percent of independents. Fifty-six percent of Republicans, who have been more supportive than Democrats of the war effort, said the U.S. should withdraw troops.

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]]>Confidence in governmentObama pollsBruce Drake2011-03-15T11:11:00+00:00Most Americans Back a 'No-Fly Zone' Over Libya, But Oppose Stronger Moveshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/14/most-americans-back-a-no-fly-zone-over-libya-but-oppose-stron/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/14/most-americans-back-a-no-fly-zone-over-libya-but-oppose-stron/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/14/most-americans-back-a-no-fly-zone-over-libya-but-oppose-stron/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A majority of Americans support establishing a "no-fly zone" over Libya as a way of supporting rebels there who appear to be losing ground to the forces of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, according to a CNN/Opinion Research poll conducted March 11-13. But, at the same time, most oppose more aggressive military action.

The idea of enforcing a no-fly zone to take away the Gadhafi's ability to use warplanes in the fight against his opposition has drawn support from some leading senators like Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry and John McCain, the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee.

But although President Obama said he was keeping all options on the table in regard to Libya, other administration officials like Defense Secretary Robert Gates and White House Chief of Staff have expressed caution about moving down that path.

In the CNN poll, 56 percent of those surveyed said they supported the idea of the U.S. and other countries establishing a no-fly zone, while 40 percent were opposed, with 4 percent undecided. Fifty-three percent back sending arms and supplies to the rebels while 43 percent are opposed, with 4 percent undecided.

CNN polling director Keating Holland said, "The no-fly zone wins support from Democrats and Republicans alike, with virtually no partisan differences. That's rare in politics these days. A gender gap does exist though, which is typical for questions on military action. More than sixty percent of men favor a no-fly zone, compared to 50 percent of women."

However, the public opposes using planes and missiles to strike at Gadhafi's forces by a 62 percent to 32 percent margin, with 6 percent undecided. And, it opposes using ground troops by 76 percent to 22 percent, with 2 percent undecided.

About 7 of 10 Americans say the removal of Gadhafi is a very or somewhat important foreign policy goal for the U.S., but most of those (47 percent) are in the "somewhat important" category.

When it comes to Obama's handling of the situation, 45 percent approve and 40 percent disapprove, with 15 percent undecided. Obama gets a slightly higher mark for his handling of the unrest sweeping across many Arab nations in the Mideast, with 49 percent approving of his performance while 43 percent do not, with 8 percent undecided.

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]]>dailyguidancelibyaMoammar Gadhafino fly zoneBruce Drake2011-03-14T14:05:00+00:00Obama Urges Reforms to 'No Child Left Behind'http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/14/obama-urges-reforms-to-no-child-left-behind/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/14/obama-urges-reforms-to-no-child-left-behind/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/14/obama-urges-reforms-to-no-child-left-behind/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

During a speech Monday at a Virginia school, President Obama outlined his plan to reboot George W. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" education law, saying he wants to overhaul in place before the start of the next school year.

The president's appearance at Kenmore Middle School in Arlington was the latest stop in a campaign to give more education-reform power to state and local governments and improve student performance, The Hill reported Monday.

Obama told students that the U.S. economy depends on young people getting an education that leads to a competitive career.

"Over the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs are going to require more than a high school diploma," Obama said. "So, if you want a bright future, you're going to need a college degree or advanced training."No Child Left Behind has "the right goals," Obama said, but more needs to be done to give parents and educators "what they need to meet those goals."

The White House proposal would require states to set tougher standards but give them more flexibility to meet those standards, with fewer rules imposed by the federal government, according to The Wall Street Journal.

It would offer new incentives for schools to involve parents in their children's education and require staff changes at the worst-performing institutions, the Journal said.

Obama said a good education "begins with parents who are instilling in their kids not only a love of learning, but also the self-confidence and especially the self-discipline and work ethics that are at the heart of success in school and success in life."

The president will call on Congress to pass a new law that does away with "unnecessary federal mandates," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Sunday. "We can't be top-down from Washington; we have to provide much more flexibility."

Duncan said Obama will focus especially on turning around schools that rank in the bottom 5 percent nationally.

The president's plan would build on his administration's "Race to the Top" program, which rewards states with the most "coherent, compelling and comprehensive" approaches to school reform.

 

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]]>Arne Duncaneducation reformNo Child Left Behindpresident obamawhite houseChristopher Weber2011-03-14T12:20:00+00:00State Department Official Resigns After Criticizing Pentagon for Treatment of WikiLeaks Suspecthttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/13/state-department-spokesman-resigns-after-criticizing-pentagon-fo/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/13/state-department-spokesman-resigns-after-criticizing-pentagon-fo/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/13/state-department-spokesman-resigns-after-criticizing-pentagon-fo/#commentsFiled under: ,

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley resigned Sunday after creating a stir last week by telling a small audience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that the prison conditions under which authorities are holding WikiLeaks suspect Pfc. Bradley Manning were "ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid on the part of the Department of Defense."

Manning is being held in a Marine brig in Quantico, Virginia, where officials have acknowledged that he is stripped of his clothing every night and must stand naked outside his cell during inspections in the morning. A Marine spokesman said this was being done as "a precaution to ensure that [Manning] did not injure himself," although his supporters dispute suggestions he is suicidal.

Manning has been charged with "aiding the enemy" and making intelligence documents and diplomatic cables available to WikiLeaks for publication on the Internet, as well as an array of other allegations.

Crowley had been asked during the talk he gave at MIT about reports of Manning's treatment and said, "What is being done to Bradley Manning is ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid on the part of the Department of Defense." The remarks became public when one attendee posted them on her blog.

On Friday, President Obama stood by the treatment of Manning, saying: "I have actually asked the Pentagon whether or not the procedures that have been taken in terms of his confinement are appropriate and are meeting our basic standards. They assure me that they are."

In the statement announcing his resignation, Crowley did not apologize for his views.

"The unauthorized disclosure of classified information is a serious crime under U.S. law," he said. "My recent comments regarding the conditions of the pre-trial detention of Private First Class Bradley Manning were intended to highlight the broader, even strategic impact of discreet actions undertaken by national security agencies every day and their impact on our global standing and leadership.

"The exercise of power in today's challenging times and relentless media environment must be prudent and consistent with our laws and values. Given the impact of my remarks, for which I take full responsibility, I have submitted my resignation."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accepted Crowley's resignation with regret, saying, he had "served our nation with distinction for more than three decades, in uniform and as a civilian. His service to country is motivated by a deep devotion to public policy and public diplomacy, and I wish him the very best."

Michael Hammer, who has been Crowley's deputy for the last month, will become acting State Department spokesman. Previously, he was the spokesman for the National Security Council.

On Sunday afternoon, Crowley posted this comment on Twitter: "Mike Hammer will do a great job as my successor at State. He and I worked together 12 years ago on the NSC staff at the White House."

 

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]]>Bradley ManningdailyguidanceP. J. Crowley resignsP.J. Crowley ResignationWikileaksBruce Drake2011-03-13T16:28:00+00:00Cuba Sentences U.S. Aid Contractor to 15 Yearshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/12/cuba-sentences-u-s-aid-contractor-to-15-years/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/12/cuba-sentences-u-s-aid-contractor-to-15-years/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/12/cuba-sentences-u-s-aid-contractor-to-15-years/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

An American contractor accused of crimes against the Cuban state was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Cuba Saturday, government-run television reported.

In a decision likely to set back Havana-Washington relations, a five-judge panel concluded that the contractor, Alan Phillip Gross, was involved in what the Cuban government described as a Washington-backed "subversive project" to "topple the Revolution," Reuters reported.

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Gross, a 61-year-old resident of Potomac, Md., a suburb of Washington, was convicted of "acts against the independence and territorial integrity of the state'' for working to set up illegal Internet networks for Cuban dissidents using "sophisticated" communications technology.

Prosecutors had asked for a 20-year sentence for Gross, who has been detained in the maximum-security jail Villa Marista in Havana since his arrest on Dec. 3, 2009. He can appeal his case to Cuba's highest court, Reuters said.

"Today's sentencing adds another injustice to Alan Gross's ordeal," said National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor. "He has already spent too many days in detention and should not spend one more. We urge the immediate release of Mr. Gross so that he can return home to his wife and family."

Gross had been sent to the island under a "democracy-building" program of the United States Agency for International Development that Cuba says is meant to destabilize or overthrow the government.

His detention strained relations between Cuba and the U.S., coming at a time when President Obama had promised to open communications with the Cuban people. The Obama administration has since loosened some travel restrictions to Cuba and lifted limits on remittances for people in the U.S. with relatives on the island.

Washington has repeatedly demanded Gross' release, saying that he was on the island to set up Internet access for Cuba's Jewish community, which numbers 1,200. But Jewish community leaders kept their distance from Gross since his arrest.

Havana prosecutors said Gross was "targeting young people, universities, religious groups, women's groups, racial groups and cultural types," Reuters said.

Gross was in Cuba on a tourist visa and was preparing to board a plane at José Martí International Airport to return to America when he was nabbed.

His wife, Judy Gross, who attended his two-day trial last week in Havana, has asked for his freedom on humanitarian grounds. He is ailing, she says, and their 26-year-old daughter and Gross' 88-year-old mother both have cancer.

Some political analysts have said that a political solution will be reached to allow Gross to go free soon. Others disagree, saying that Cuba has shown little desire to improve relations with the United States, which has imposed a trade embargo on the island since 1962.

 

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]]>Alan GrossCuba-U.S. relationsCuban crimesdailyguidanceTommy VictorUnited States Agency for International DevelopmentLuisita Lopez Torregrosa2011-03-12T17:24:00+00:00Nuclear Plant Explodes in Aftermath of Japan Quake, Meltdown a 'Possibility'http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/12/nuclear-plant-explodes-in-aftermath-of-japan-quake-death-toll/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/12/nuclear-plant-explodes-in-aftermath-of-japan-quake-death-toll/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/12/nuclear-plant-explodes-in-aftermath-of-japan-quake-death-toll/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fears of a meltdown continue to grow after a nuclear power plant exploded Saturday in earthquake-stricken Japan, while the country is still reeling from aftershocks, a devastating tsunami and a growing death toll.

The blast severely damaged the nuclear power plant in northern Japan, blowing the roof off one building and forcing an evacuation of the surrounding area. Japanese officials initially reported the containment vessel of the reactor at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station escaped major damage, thanks to a metal sheath that protected it even as the reactor's walls peeled away.

However, concerns are increasing over the possibility of a meltdown at one if not more reactors at the station. CNN is reporting an official with Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency as saying there is "the possibility" of a meltdown based on the levels of radioactive chemicals in the air. The official also said engineers have been unable to get close enough to confirm what is happening.

The AP is also reporting cooling systems have failed at another reactor on Japan's coast.

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A radiation leak was detected earlier Saturday, but officials said they believed it was small and could be contained, the New York Times reported. Even so, tens of thousands of residents within a 12-mile radius of the wrecked plant were evacuated. Japanese workers were injecting sea water into the core of the reactor to prevent a meltdown, a step indicating the potential seriousness of the problem.

The explosion may have been triggered when the reactor's cooling system failed after the quake. Billowing white smoke shot up from the plant. "We've confirmed that the reactor container was not damaged -- the explosion didn't occur inside the reactor container," government spokesman Yukio Edano said at a news conference. "As such there was no large amount of radiation leakage outside." Several other nuclear reactors were also imperiled by the earthquake, the Washington Post said.


The official death toll approached 700 Saturday and thousands more were missing. In Minamisanriku, a city of 17,000 people, more than half the residents were unaccounted for, Japan's Kyodo News agency said. Some 70 aftershocks kept people in affected areas on edge, and much of the country's northeast coastline was under water due to the tsunami, according to The Post.

The powerful wave swept over cities and farmland in the northern part of the country. North of Tokyo, near the epicenter of the 8.9 magnitude quake, witnesses said entire neighborhoods were swallowed up by the tsunami, which was unleashed by the quake.

At a news conference in Washington Friday, President Obama said he was confident Japan would rebuild quickly -- and he praised the resourcefulness of its people and their strong economy. "It has dealt with (natural disasters) before and will deal with them again. And Japan, I'm sure, will come back stronger than ever -- hopefully with our help," he said. Part of that help may come from one U.S. aircraft carrier already off the coast of Japan. Another one is on its way.

On Capitol Hill, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said Republicans "share and support the president's commitment to bring America's resources to bear to help Japan recover. And we commend the actions that he's taken so far."

Watch video of the plant explosion, courtesy of the Associated Press.




 

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]]>japanjapan earthquaketsunamiPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-12T14:25:00+00:00Obama on Oil: Tapping Strategic Reserves Possible, But It's a Last Resorthttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/11/obama-on-oil-opening-strategic-reserves-possible-but-its-a-la/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/11/obama-on-oil-opening-strategic-reserves-possible-but-its-a-la/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/11/obama-on-oil-opening-strategic-reserves-possible-but-its-a-la/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

President Obama has not ruled out tapping America's strategic oil reserves if oil prices continue to rise, but he added such a move would first require a "severe disruption of supply."

Increasing gas prices, triggered by the unrest in the Middle East, were among the topics the president addressed at a Friday afternoon press conference that touched on the devastating Japanese earthquake, America's possible involvement in Libya, and the budget stalemate in Congress.

Obama said the opening of the country's strategic oil reserves remains a possibility, but he declined to specify under what circumstances the reserves would be opened, other than to say it would take a major event -- one similar to 1970s OPEC crisis, or one that severely hobbled production capabilities, as when Hurricane Katrina shut down oil refineries in the Gulf.

He added that opening the reserves could be done expediently -- that the process "was teed up" and would not require months or weeks of preparation.

However, the president also maintained that now there is "no shortage of supply" in the global oil market and said the real problem is uncertainty. "We are confident about our ability to fill any potential gaps in supply," he said, noting that Libya in particular did not account for a significant portion of overall world production.

With oil prices edging up in recent weeks, some analysts have called for increased domestic drilling. Obama shot down suggestions the White House has discouraged it, saying, "Any notion that my administration has shut down oil production might make for a good political soundbite, but it doesn't match up with reality."

The proof, he said, is that the United States is "better prepared for supply disruptions" than in previous years, noting that "Today we use seven percent less oil than we did in 2005." The president attributed the decrease in part to more fuel-efficient cars.

Last year, American domestic oil production reached its highest level since 2003, and that for the first time in over a decade, oil imports accounted for less than half of U.S. consumption, he added.

The president insisted that comprehensive energy reform is the only way America can end its dependence on foreign oil. "We've been having this conversation for nearly four decades now," he said. Vowing not to hand reform off to the next administration, Obama said, "I think the American people are tired of that. They're tired of talk."

Switching to Libya, Obama remained cautious regarding any military measures the U.S. was prepared to take, and instead offered that America had "an obligation to prevent" violence akin to the situations in Rwanda and Bosnia. But he was careful to say there's no evidence that violence on that scale is occuring in Libya."I'm not saying that's what happening," he clarified, "and [that] we're prepared to step in" right now.

The president also addressed the budget war currently being fought in Congress, calling for both sides to come together and compromise. He opened the door to another potential two-week extension to continue funding the federal government, but criticized any temporary measures beyond that as "irresponsible."

Obama placed some blame for the stalemate on Republican leaders, accusing them of filling their approved House budget with a raft of "political" riders -- ones he felt had no place in a budget bill. He further maintained that Democrats were going to "hold the line on critical programs" that he believed were key to America's future, including education funding and reform efforts.

Regarding the recent earthquake in Japan, Obama said he was "heartbroken." He assured the public that the White House was coordinating with the Japanese government regarding security concerns, including possible nuclear containment from damaged reactors.

American efforts to assist the Japanese government, he said, would likely be centered around "lift capacity" and cleanup efforts. Obama remained confident that the Japanese would rebound from the crisis, given the fact that the nation was "so resourceful, with such an advanced economy." Still, he said, the tragedy of the quake was being felt across the world: "Humanity is one," he said.

 

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]]>Alex Wagner2011-03-11T14:51:00+00:00